Clothes Swap

I have never been to Waterside before, so this was a really exciting experience for me, and I am so glad that Clothes Swap was my first impression of this venue. Being part of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I know how important it is to have shows like this that represent our community in theatre and allow more people to understand and celebrate queerness.

The show is set in a youth club and follows a group of young, queer people as they navigate identity and belonging. When a stranger threatens the safety of their club, and the clothes swap, they must work together to protect what they love. Through arguments and occasional irrational decisions, Ash, Tatum and Den learn that they are always stronger together.

It is so common for groups of queer people to be questioned in their existence, and this show represents those struggles. However, I still found that it was able to make light of these experiences, and represented young people in other ways. I particularly loved it when Ash had to write his first CV. Everyone has had to do it at some point, and it was one of those moments that the whole audience could relate to. I also loved all the one-liners; laughs constantly filled the audience.

Each character was so well made, all with their own quirks and stories. I loved Ash, a whirlwind of chaos and flamboyance, but totally himself! David Carpenter ruled the stage, and I loved the energy he gave to Ash. Tatum felt like the complete opposite to Ash, quiet and more composed, but Abel Hanson gave a wonderful humour to Tatum, with lots of cheeky facial expressions that made a big impact. This character was easily my favourite, because they saw the best in everyone, and readily gave out support to anyone who needed it.

Den also had brilliant humour, and Naomi Ricci represented all the young girls with something to stand for. While Den clashed with Ash, you could clearly see how much the group meant to her and how much she wanted to protect it. Chris, played by Nicole Keri, had to step in when Ash and Den were in a bad spot, but Chris was clearly a brilliant role model to the two, and that connection was great to see. Keri showed just how much Chris was a rock to the group, and her down-to-earth energy was so likeable. Valerie seemed to threaten the group’s safety, but this ‘Karen’ attitude was perfectly executed by Lindsay Eavis. She was a difficult character to understand, but Eavis kept this mystery up whilst also showing a soft side, which I adored. All the characters were very well thought out and completed by a cast of talented individuals.

A gorgeous testament to discovering yourself and fighting for the things you love, Clothes Swap is a must-watch show! You can watch it at the Waterside Arts Centre until Saturday 6^th June, so don’t miss it!

WE SCORE CLOTHES SWAP...